Southern CT Utilizes Second-Half Comeback, Defeats Women's Lacrosse, 13-12
Links: Highlights | Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – Battling snowy conditions from Martone-Mejail Field on Saturday afternoon, the Merrimack College women's lacrosse team fell by one goal, 13-12, against the Southern Connecticut State Owls. The Warriors led by as many as five goals in the second half, but could not hold on to the lead.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 12 | Southern CT 13
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 1-5 NE-10) | Southern CT (2-5, 1-4 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Merrimack entered the game looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Owls, but Southern Connecticut started the game on a 3-0 run. Taylor Portelinha scored just 5:07 into the opening half to give the visitors the three-goal advantage.
Merrimack called a timeout and immediately responded with three straight goals. Junior attacker Aubrie Stouffer (Souderton, Pa.) scored the opening goal, and senior captain Kelly Metzger (Trumbull, Conn.) finished the run with her fourth goal of the season off an assist from Hunter McCarthy (Avon, Conn.) The score read 3-3 with 16:02 to play in the first stanza.
The Owls quickly grabbed the lead back, but then Merrimack scored six of the final seven goals of the half to take a 9-5 lead into halftime. Stouffer netted a hat trick in the first 30 minutes, while Metzger and McCarthy also collected multi-point halves. Merrimack was a perfect 6-of-6 in the clearing game in the first half, while winning the draw control battle by one, 8-7.
In the second half, senior Giulia Palombo (Sandwich, Mass.) opened up the scoring to give the Warriors a 10-5 lead, which would end up being their largest of the game. The Owls answered just 1:19 later and the comeback began for the visitors.
Neither team scored over the next 10 minutes, but an Owls tally with 16:44 left in the game began a run of 7-1 in the favor of Southern Connecticut, including seven combined goals over a span of 5:43. Kennedy Sherman scored her fourth goal of the game to make it 11-11 with 11:03 to play. The Owls took the lead for the first time since the opening half with 7:58 left.
With two minutes to play, Annette Ruggiero (Peabody, Mass.) scored to tie the game at 12-all. The Owls had one more answer in their pockets. Freshman Emma Farrel scored on a free position with 50 seconds left , her fourth of the game, and the Owls won the ensuing draw control to run the remaining time off the clock.
Inside The Numbers
- Metzger led the team with four points on two goals and two assists. She set a season high in goals and points, and tied her season high with two helpers
- Ruggiero and Stouffer each finished the game with hat tricks. For the rookie, it was her second three-goal game of the season and sixth multi-goal game. Stouffer snapped a drought that saw her score just once over the previous four games
- Farrel and Sherman paced the Owls' offense. Farrel finished the contest with four goals, including the final two of the game for the visitors. Sherman totaled a game-high six points (4g, 2a)
- The second half turnaround resulted in more possession for Southern Connecticut. They would eight of 12 draw controls in the second half. After getting off 20 shots in the opening half, Merrimack only mustered eight attempts in the second stanza
- Senior defender Olivia Coakley (Bridgewater, Mass.) collected her first point of the season with an assist, while also compiling five draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover
Up Next
The Warriors takes on Dowling College in non-conference action on Thursday at 4 p.m. It will be the Warriors sixth home contest out of the last seven games.
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